Haze Leads to Rise in Asthma Cases

Majority Of Patients Children, Temp Fluctuations Spreading Viral Infections
From blazing heat to dust filled air, there seems to be no respite for Delhiites. On Thursday, dust haze clouded the sky and made things difficult for people with respiratory problems. City doctors say that there has been a 20% increase in the OPD cases in the last two days and a majority of them are asthma patients.

“The air is filled with suspended dust particles. In the last two days, we have seen a surge in asthma attack cases and, unfortunately, a majority of them are children. Dust particles irritate the airways and result in swelling. As a result, asthma patients suffer from respiratory distress. We have seen a lot of infants developing breathing difficulty due to the weather. We have to put them on mass cell stabilisers or anti–allergics. It’s important to constantly monitor their condition,” said Dr Sanjeev Bagai, CEO and senior consultant, paediatric, Batra Hospital and Medical Research Centre.

Upper respiratory disorders and allergies are very common in this weather. The weather on Thursday gave many Delhiites a tough time. “I’m allergic to dust. I had a tough time driving to office today and since morning I’m sneezing uncontrollably,” said Savita Kumar, who works with a software firm in Delhi. Doctors say that those allergic to pollen and dust should cover themselves properly before going out. “Asthmatics should cover their face properly, ideally with a wet handkerchief, so that dust particles don’t enter the respiratory system. It is also important to carry inhalers,” said Dr GC Vaishnava, head of the department, internal medicine, Fortis Healthcare.

Due to temperature fluctuation, the weather is conducive for spread of viral infections. “Change in humidity helps in the transmission of virus. We are seeing a lot of cases of viral infection, conjunctivitis, ear infection, etc. Old people and children need to be very careful. Asthmatics should ensure that airway doesn’t get constricted. They should take steam and use inhalers,” said Dr MP Sharma, head of the department, internal medicine, Rockland hospital.

According to Dr D K Kesar, director internal medicine, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, “There has been a dip in temperature, but it is still very warm during daytime. It is important to drink a lot of water as we sweat a lot during this weather.” Hospitals are still reporting cases of cholera, diarrhoea and gastritis.

Delhi Dust Fallout

The dust haze which clouded Delhi’s skies on
Thursday made things difficult for asthmatics. City hospitals reported a 20% increase in upper respiratory tracts infections and seasonal allergiesCommon Medical Problems

Asthma attacks

Rhinitis

Sinusitis

Viral infections

Respiratory distress esp in older people

Ear infections

Viral conjunctivitis

Reasons

The Suspended dust particles in the air

The Pollen movement

The Fluctuations in temperature

The Change in humidity

Precautions to be Taken

Asthmatics should avoid going out or cover nose and mouth with a wet cloth

Cover your face properly while going out

Carry an inhaler

Wash your eyes regularly

Avoid sudden changes in temperature

Disclaimer: The news story on this page is the copyright of the cited publication. This has been reproduced here for visitors to review, comment on and discuss. This is in keeping with the principle of ‘Fair dealing’ or ‘Fair use’. Visitors may click on the publication name, in the news story, to visit the original article as it appears on the publication’s website.

Records of published articles in the newspapers helps common people about precautions to be taken while seeking the services from health professionals and also helps health professionals to rectify the negligence.read more…

Aarogya Network

aarogya.com aims to be India’s leading comprehensive health information portal. The site has sections, which cover almost all the medical specialties and give useful information on various diseases. To enhance its reach, the content is available in Indian languages too. We were the first health website to introduce online support groups. Addiction support and Epilepsy support are examples of some very active and vibrant communities.